Posted on 02/02/2010 11:28:51 AM PST by Maelstorm
Gay-rights campaigners and secularists called on Tuesday for protests during a visit to Britain by Pope Benedict XVI this year, after he condemned equality legislation seen as friendly to gays.
The 82-year-old pontiff, who made his comments in a letter to the bishops of England and Wales on Monday, is reportedly set to visit Britain in September, the first such trip in 28 years.
Human rights campaigner and gay activist Peter Tatchell said he saw the pope's letter as an attack on the legal rights granted to gay people and women.
"His ill-informed claim that our equality laws undermine religious freedom suggests that he supports the right of churches to discriminate in accordance with their religious ethos.
"He seems to be defending discrimination by religious institutions and demanding that they should be above the law."
In his comments on Monday the pope said that Britain "is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity."
But he added "the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs," he wrote.
"In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed."
Observers said the pontiff was referring to legislation that took effect on January 1, 2009, preventing adoption agencies -- including Catholic ones -- from discriminating against gay couples.
The National Secular Society (NSS) reacted furiously to the pope's remarks.
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: "The taxpayer in this country is going to be faced with a bill of some 20 million pounds for the visit of the pope.
"A visit in which he has already indicated he will attack equal rights and promote discrimination."
He said he would appeal to gay groups, feminist groups, family planning organisations, pro-choice groups, victim support groups and "anyone who feels under siege from the Vatican?s current militancy" to take part in the protests.
Bethy, you appear to not be aware of how seriously we take our freedom of speech here. You are free to say anything you like. We are free to disagree. If you up the ante, we will respond.
So is the Holy Father free to express his opinion, even (horrors!) about events in YOUR COUNTRY. As are we.
If you come on a thread with a troll comment, or a baiting comment, you will get a reaction. (*I’m offering 3rd grade psychology, here*.) If you want to fight about religion, you will get takers.
I don’t have a desire for conflict, but it is tempting, when you appear to take offense at others exercising the SAME free speech you demand.
There are no American SUBJECTS. Legal citizenship is the cutoff point.
I was highlighting the UK and US, the remark I was responding to accused me of not having a valid opinion because my family came from N’Ireland, hence why I quoted both.
Well, I hope you can get some sleep. Good night, and again, God bless you, may you sleep in safety under His protection.
bethybabes69: No.
Good. Because that would be bloody idiotic.
I’m from N Ireland. I go back almost every year. I’m a citizen of this great country but also have an Irish Passport. I never could bring myself to have a British one - sorry. I grew up with Paisley’ites...and went to college a few blocks from Paisley’s headquarters. I’ve been called every name meaning whore in the Holy Bible and then some and could never respond as they were the majority and owned everything including jobs. I ended up gun-running for a while and had to leave. Yeah, I became a hate-monger just like them but thank God left it behind. This wonderful country does that to you...calms one down...and makes one grow up..at least it did me. Your slanderous comments about my religion and Pope made me have a flashback especially since you’re Scottish, er, English.
Such is your own personal interpretation of Scripture, and you're certainly welcome to it.
God Bless you through Jesus Christ, and may He anoint you with the The Holy Spirit, Judith. x
Backing your post - no man is sinless, only one ever was.
“Holy” = set aside, righteous
Matthew 10:18
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
holy
Main Entry: ho·ly
1 : exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness
2 : divine <for the Lord our God is holy — Psalms 99:9(Authorized Version)>
3 : devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity <a holy temple> <holy prophets>
4 a : having a divine quality <holy love> b : venerated as or as if sacred <holy scripture> <a holy relic>
5 —used as an intensive <this is a holy mess> <he was a holy terror when he drank — Thomas Wolfe> ; often used in combination as a mild oath <holy smoke>
— ho·li·ly \-lə-lē\ adverb
I bet you ask the same of Gods Word. You have a failed position and now choose to play games. You have an anger issue with the Pope, so be it. But him saying homosexuality is bad and that gay-friendly laws are not to be supported is a good thing. Enough of this silliness.
Do "We need an international push back on everything homosexual. ?
We'd better come up with one very soon, or pretty quick EVERY perversion must be accepted and "celebrated" in the name of anti-"discrimination".
There are times when "discrimination" is a GOOD and ESSENTIAL thing.
So is the Holy Father.
We disagree. ;-D It’s a FRee country.
So you figure Catholicism is a greater threat than forced acceptance of faggotry ? I don't see the Pope using law to force others to believe the way he wants.
I see the faggots and their enablers doing that.
I agree to disagree, the doctrine is irrelevant if we adhere to Gods word.
The Pope might fall under the 3rd definition.
He’s still a man, and therefore sinful.
bethybabes69: Really, that's good.
Well aren't you special...
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